May has always been my favourite month of the year. The blossom is out, gardens and the countryside have come to life and look fresh and new again. It is an annual renewal time. May is here again but this year all the blossom and beautiful gardens seemed to have come to life with the glorious weather of this years April. Even the weather seems to have speeded up and made all of nature wake up early. The last month certainly has been lovely weather wise lets hope for an equally pleasant May.

April did however see the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, and I think we must all have been moved by the ceremonies before and during her funeral. Our nation has undoubtedly lost a lady who was greatly admired and loved for her many qualities, not least her devoted service to others. It set me thinking about the amount of time that people give in service to their communities all over the country and in our villages especially. Just look in your Marlpit this month and see the number of events that have been organised. Look at the clubs, association and societies that flourish here. Think of the ordinary people who are giving their time and effort in our service as the Queen Mum did. I think they are all quite amazing and an example to us all, as she was.

Some people who have given great service to us all as staplers and deliverers of the Marlpit have retired from this voluntary work in the last few weeks. The Editors would like to thank Edith and Horace Lincoln, Ann Stamp and her husband and Albert Durrell for all their hard work. We would also like to welcome Jill Howkins and Chris Howett in to the Marlpit team.

We also have to announce that Dorothy Airs is retiring this month, Dorothy has for some considerable time worked for The Marlpit. She has served as an Editor, Advertising Manager and latterly as our Treasurer. Most organisations can manage to get by with a few committee members, a secretary and a chairman can usually be drummed up, but just try getting a good Treasurer to volunteer. Nobody wants to know. Dorothy however took on the role and managed it superbly. We will miss her immensely and we wish her and Rick all good fortune in their new home. She has also found us a willing replacement. We welcome Ben Hubbard as our new Treasurer from 1st May.

Ben's first job as Treasurer will be to count up the donations for The Marlpit from those little brown envelopes. Please do not take any envelopes to Dorothy after the 1st May. Please give any envelopes outstanding to Ben and not Dorothy (see back page for address and telephone number) or to any Editor, if more convenient. If there are any readers who have not been seen by a collector and would like to make a donation please contact Ben or any Editor.

Finally, you will find within this edition details of our new Web Site. The Marlpit will be 25 years old this month. We were launched as a Community Newspaper in 1977 during Silver Jubilee Year and we felt it was fitting during Golden Jubilee year to communicate in the modern way not only to Coltishall, Great Hautbois and Horstead with Stanninghall but also to the whole world via the World Wide Web. Please read our article about the Web Site, look at it on your computers and please let any Editor have your ideas for developing this new innovation.

BG